'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1909-1910' [‎173r] (77/148)

AGBlCULTURH.
V
39
Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. proP erand " { ,?| ) t f- 000 aor f illSi “ d -. In the former the decrease is most marked ia
f h e case of safflowei whreh is mainly grown in the rabi tracts of the Eastern Deccan and the
Lndtak, but this decrease was part y compensated for by increase in the cultivation of
Line and groundnut The area under cotton rose in the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. from 31-7 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of acres
, n Q 7.4 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees or by 264 per cent, and 18 per cent, respectively over the average and the figures
or last year. In Sind the area under cotton fell by 46,000 acres or by 18 per cent Favourable
arly ra' DS and the stl[n ’V“ afforded by high prices for the produce account for the increase in
fhe Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. proper. It is noticeable that while the area under food-grains in the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent.
r o P er expanded by only about 4 per cent, yet the outturn compared with that of the previous
vear advanced about 31 per cent. In Sind though the actual area under food-grains diminished
by 64 per cent, yet the outturn was better by 2% per cent.
3 . The irrigated area of the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. proper amounted to 8*37 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of acres. This
is an apparent decline of 10,000 acres but, as the area irrigated more than once increased by
j 2 000 acres, the actual area irrigated is greater by 2,000 acres. In Sind the low inundation
caused a decrease in irrigated area of 11-6 per cent, to 30'57 lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of acres. The percentage of
irrigated area to net cropped area is 3-5 per cent, in the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. and 90-2 per cent, in Sind.
In the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. proper the net increase in the area irrigated from Government canals was*
5700 acres or 4 per cent. The area irrigated from private canals fell by 5,000 acres. Well
irrigation remained about the same as last year while the area under tanks declined by
0^300 acres or 6 per cent. In Sind the area under Government and private canals fell by
390,000 acres or 11| per cent. There was an increase of 11,000 acres in the area under wells
but a decrease of 23,000 acres in the area irrigatead from other sources.
4 . The number of pakka wells increased by 878 to 157,505 and the number of kaeha
wells decreased by 393 to 96,015. Other sources of irrigation decreased by 149.
3.—Agricultural Experiments.
The experimental work carried on throughout the year by the Department of Agriculture
related to cotton, wheat, jowfir, groundnuts, tobacco, potatoes, tapioca and manures. A number
of cultural experiments were made and the work of hybridization, seed selection and varietal
test has been continued and extended.
Cotton,
Chap. IV.
PRODUCTION -
AND
DISTRIBUTION
Irrigation,
Water-supply.
At Dharwdr experimental work was carried on in connection with the introduction of the
Navsari (Broach) variety from Gujardt. This cotton did well under the favourable conditions
of the season and, in the case of newly introduced seed, yielded 789 lbs. of seed-eotton per acre
compared with 620 lbs., the best yield of local Kumpta cotton. The ginning percentage of the
Gujarat variety was also considerably higher than that of the local variety. Selection and
hybridization was being carried on with the object of improving the quality of the fibre and
increasing the ginning percentage. At Gadag experiments were confined to Dharwar-
American cotton, newly introduced American varieties, Cambodia cotton and hybrids of
these varieties. The New Orleans variety appears to be the most promising of American
kinds, giving a yield of 587 lbs. per acre against the 384 lbs. of the local variety and ginning
at 82*5 per cent. Cambodia cotton was grown at several places. The best variety at Dharwar
yielded 491 lbs, per acre with the high ginning percentage of 39. The fibre of this cotton
appears to be weaker than that of the Dhdrwar-American. At Surat selections of the most
promising hybrids and of the local variety were carried out and some new hybrids obtained. Seed
was distributed amongst local cultivators who obtained 5 per cent, more for this cotton than for
the local Surat cotton. At Dhulia the work of separating the different types which constitute
the Khdmdesli mixture was in progress and Concilia and Cambodia varieties, which were
experimented on, did well, the former giving the exceptional ginning percentage of 45-45.
Mendelian investigations were carried out upon cotton at Dharwdr and Surat, and results
approximating to the law were obtained.
Wheat.
Experiments in wheat growing were carried on at Dohad, Nadiad, Dhulia, Dh4rw4r and
Gadag, At Dohad attempts were made to ascertain how far the occurrence of spotted grains
hi hard wheats under heavy rainfall or irrigation can be controlled. At Nadidd rust damaged
several wheats under trial. Selection was also being carried on at Dohad, Dhulia and Dharwar
with the object of purifying those varieties which are commonly grown by cultivators in a
j-Hixed condition. Attention was given to the improvement of Bombay wheats by selecting for
°nger ear-heads, better tillering and greater resistance to rust.
Jowdr,
, Selection in local varieties was carried ont at Dharwar, Gadag and Surat with the object
|x, 1 ? 1 P rov i n g‘ the size of the grain, increasing the outturn and securing uniformity. At
Jwdr and Dlmlia experiments in the growing of various varieties, both of seed and fodder
Jowdrs, were also in progress.
Groundnuts,
y -1 A x P erir nents were conducted at Surat, Dhulia and Dhfirwar. The Spanish pea-nut
eel good results at Surat under dry-crop cultivation on heavy black cotton soil. The